Steve Cotterill, the manager of Forest Green Rovers, showered his team with praise after they defeated Bradford City, who were playing brilliantly, 2-0.
Impressive away victory was sealed with a penalty kick in stoppage time and a double from Christian Doidge in the first sixty seconds.
Rovers were able to escape the relegation zone for the first time since November thanks to the outcome.
Cotterill remarked, “They’re really united in that dressing room.” “Now that they understand what I mean when I talk about team spirit. They are performing each other’s dirty work.
In the opening minute of the game, Doidge headed in a close-range corner from Dom Thompson to give Forest Green the perfect start.
Charlie McCann received a low cross from Tyrese Omotoye, who had come back into the game, but his effort went over the bar.
Andy Cook’s close-range effort was well-smothered by Vicente Reyes after Ryan Inniss deflected a cross towards his goal.
After taking up a yard of space on the left, Omotoye fired a hard shot across the goal’s face, but keeper Sam Walker deflected it past the post.
On minute 89, the Bantams appeared to have a late equaliser when Tyler Walker was spectacularly denied by Reyes, and Inniss managed to scramble the rebound to safety.
McCann displayed amazing energy levels in stoppage time, nicking the ball past the Bradford defence before being upended in the penalty area.
Rovers won back-to-back games thanks to a penalty kick that was hammered home by Doidge, pulling them out of the League Two drop zone.
“It’s an unbelievable result and fully deserved as well,” Cotterill continued. It was very well-organized, particularly when we were working.
We’re modest, but we’re happy. Now, we’ll also be much higher in the form table.
“They’ve put their all into it, even though we’re not there yet. Since I’ve arrived, I’ve praised and thanked everyone there for their efforts.
“I’ve played football for a long time, and things can change,” Hopefully, we can maintain our momentum, stay above that boundary, and take down a couple more teams.”
Regarding Doidge: “I’m incredibly happy for him. Those were two very smart goals. He was focused from the beginning to the very end.”
Bradford City: Wright, Odour (Kavanagh 63), Cook, Smallwood, Gillieard, Ridehalgh (T Walker 45), Halliday, (Chapman 63), S. Walker, Tomkinson, Kelly, and Richards (Smith 81). Doyle, Oyegoke, and McDonald were not substituted.
Forest Green: Doidge (Bernard 90+4), Omotoye (Lavinier 68), Reyes, Robson, Moore-Taylor, Bunker, Inniss, Thompson, McCann, Osadebe, McAllister (Jones 81). Johnson, Maddox, Robertson, and Searle were not substituted in.
Sir Mather is the referee.
